Forum: Hormonal Therapy - Before, During and After — Risks and benefits, side effects, and costs of anti-estrogen medications.

Hi all, has anyone had abnormal bleeding while taking tamoxifen? I didn't have a period for 8 months after chemo and then this weekend I started bleeding a little bit at first and then a flood began. My gyno already confirmed that I was in menopause a few months ago and I am 43, so very concerned and scared of what this could be. I had a biopsy today so will have to wait for those results. Nothing so wonderful as waiting. If anyone has had similar experiences, would love to hear about it. Thanks, Jenny

Me too! I didn't have chemo, but didn't have a period the first 9 months of Tamoxifen. The last three months, I've had horrible, long, heavy periods. The endometrial biopsy was normal. Now what? Ugh....just what we needed....a brand NEW problem! Let me know what you find out about that biopsy.

Hi there, I didn't have a period for about 13 months, the time I was doing tx. I was taking tamoxifen for about 4 months then started bleeding real heavy for about 4-5 days. I am 41 so I think that was normal, my Onc said I may be getting a period back. Had an endometrial bx and that came back normal. I wouldn't be too worried about that. You are still young and although the chemo may have put you through the hormone induce menopause, I don't think it's abnormal to have some bleeding.

Me too! I was really worried at first. My periods had been gone about 14 months (had chemo, rads, tamox), when they suddenly returned with a vengance. I had super heavy bleeding for about the next 4 cycles, each cycle lasted about 6 days. Then the bleeding slowed, and now my periods are as they used to be before BC... maybe even lighter.

My biopsy was also normal, though it was noted that I have lots of large uterine fibroids and an ovarian cyst. I am 36 and pre-menopausal.

I think you will be fine, and in a few months, your bleeding will return to normal. Good luck!

Thank you all for answering. Sometimes I feel like I am all alone in this journey. I am still worried about the biopsy. I hate that word so much. Was anyone told by their doctors to stop taking Tamoxifen or change to Arimadex? My gyno said that my uterine lining is just sooooo thick.

No one told me to stop taking the tamox, but when my u/s showed the lining to be 28 when it shouldn't be more than a 9 or 10, I stopped it that day and e-mailed my Onc and told her I didn't want to be taking that if it could increase the chance of endometrial ca. So we waited until the bx and that came back normal. Now I'm still not taking it because Im having a hysterectomy on tues, and they want you off the tamox for 2 wks prior so you dont get blood clots. Everything is so confussing but Im glad we have eachother here on this forum.

I have not had bleeding while on Tamox, but I am going in for a hysterectomy in Feb. I choose to have a full hysterectomy as I needed to shut down my ovaries and I wanted to avoid other issues later. I've always had issue come up on my yearly paps with my cervix.

Has anyone gone through this surgery already?

I'm glad I found this link as I have so many questions and would like to connect with other woman going through this.

I finished chemo in Oct and rads in Dec. My period started back on New Year's Eve and my oncologist now wants my ovaries shut down. I'm ok with not having periods anymore as I always used an IUD prior to breast cancer, but I'm not looking forward to this surgery and going through another recovery.

Well, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one having these issues......although I wish that NONE of us were in this situation. I'm waiting to see what the next few months bring. My gyn says I can have an ablation for the bleeding, but I just really feel like I'd like to say goodbye to my uterus and ovaries. Stacy and lrpabon, I hope your hysterectomies go well, and that you will keep us posted on your progress!

I am having the same problem. I have been on Tamoxifen for 6 months I am 41 years old and pre-menapausal. After 13 months of no period. It came back with a vengenance. Very irregular and this month I have had it for 14 + days. I went to my GYN this week and they did a biopsy. Just when I thought I was going to get back to normal, I get to enjoy this. I had 6 months of Chemo, 6 weeks of radiation and 1 year of Herceptin. I got my port out in Dec. and was looking forward to a uneventful 2011. My gyn said once he gets the results back, we can discuss my options. But seeing that I have only been on Tamox. for only 6 months and I have 4 1/2 more years to go. We may want to discuss a hysterectomy. Fun Fun. I am glad to know I am not alone. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

I've been having the same problem. I was relieved to see other people with similar problems (well, you know what I mean, I really wouldn't wish this on anyone, but it's so nice to be able to go to this forum and find people with issues in common.)

I've been on Tamoxifen since the beginning of November, chemo had put me into menopause but just a couple weeks after taking my first pill my period started and has never really stopped. I'll get maybe one day break and then spotting, bleeding starts up again, and then it's full on heavy. I've NEVER had a period like this. I agree with KWINKLER I was really looking forward to an uneventful 2011. But they had me in for an ultrasound yesterday and now I'm awaiting the results. ARG! It's frustrating too because it is so heavy I have to wear tampons AND pads....I almost don't want to go out so I can avoid getting stuck somewhere without enough protection.

I'll be going through surgery for full hysterectomy on March 2nd. I hope the recover time is quicker than 8 weeks. I'n not looking forward to having to heal from another surgery. I'm also curious how long hot flashes and such last after this sort of surgery.

Hey girls, this is Jenny and I was just wondering if any of you had to take megace to stop the bleeding? I have been taking it for about 2 weeks and the bleeding stopped right away, but I have had alot of side effects like terrible indigestion, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat so they said yesterday I could stop taking it. Now they say that in a week or two that I should start bleeding again(Yay) and that it could be painful and worse bleeding than before. Have any of you experienced this? They will test after this bleed to see if the uterine lining has shrunk and I am betting that if it hasn't, I will be on my way to the hysterectomy party as well. Please take care!

It is so nice to come on and find people who are going through the same thing as I am. I haven't had a menstral period for a year and 1/2 since chemo and woke up to bleeding yesterday morning. Since I am on a blood thinner for a blood clot (side effect of Tamoxifen) I freaked out, but my levels were OK. I really didn't expect anything to show up again and hearing that it has happened to others, it makes me feel better.

Since my last post, I have had a Uterine Biopsy and Ultrasound. The Biopsy came back negative - Thank goodness. And the ultrasound showed a 2 inch cyst on my ovary and a polyp. They have taken me off the tamoxifen for one month until I go back for a follow up ultrasound. They are hoping the break from the Tamoxifen will help with the deteriation of the cyst. I have quit bleeding for now. So hopefully everything will work out and I will not have to have another surgery. I will update in a month or so.

HI I FINISHED TAKEING TAMOXIFEN IN SEP 2010 AFTER 5 YRS, AT CHRISTMAS I HAD LIGHT BLEED AND HAVE HAD 2 MORE WENT FOR ULTRASOUND AND HAVE THICKENEND LESION WITHIN THE ENDOMETRIUM OF 17 I HAD THIS TEST 2 YRS AGO AND IT WAS 1O WANT SHOULD IT BE,I WAS HAVEING A NORMAL CYCLE BEFOR CANCER AND ONLY HAD ONE CYCLE IN 4 YRS,THOUGHT THIS WAS OVER REALY WORRID SEEING CONSULTANT ON MONDAY,ANYONE OUT THERE HAD THIS,

Hi all, i had seg mast 4/3/10 and started tamoxifen in april, my periods stopped straight away till july then stopped again till nov, now had bleeding every month, Dr sent me for scan in nov 2010 found an ovarian cyst . Went back for check jan 2011 to see if gone but has got bigger and one also on other overy. Had hysteroscopy and all clear.Now waiting to return to gynae to discuss weather to have ovaries removed. So from the information i have been told it is normal to have irregular bleeding whilst taking tam, good luck hope biopsy is all clear Lyn

Wow. I love this site, even though I'm scared to come here. I'm 52, was perimenopausal when Dxd w/BC last summer. I was having normal "irregular" perimenopausal periodes -- lite.

I started Tamoxifen October of 2011. Have been doing just fine on it. Then suddenly, a very brief, light period about 2 weeks ago, and now a MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR period. Good grief have stocked up on Tampax Super! I have never had this type of period in my LIFE.

Glad to hear I'm not alone, but now troubled.

I don't want a hysterectomy. Darnit.

I initially thought I lost my Mojo, but I kind of got things going again. #1, I feel this is another setback for any normality in my life. See my onc actually this Thursday -- serendipitous. But this just puts a bite in everything.

WELL THIS WORRY IS AT LAST BEHIND ME,I HAD THE OP AND A D&C,I WAS HAVEING A BIOPSY AS WELL BUT THE NURSE HAD A LOOK AT NOTES AND NO BIOPSY WAS DONE,I HAVE NOT GOT TO GO BACK TO SEE THE CONSULTANT,BUT NEED TO SEE DR ABOUT BLEEDING,THANKS FOR YOUR KIND MESSAGES ANY ONE NEEDS TO KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THIS THICKENING OF THE LINING I AM HERE.

I am with you, my sister warriors!!! Finished chemo in march 2012, 33 rounds of radiation, and started tamox after chemo. Have to admit i have missed some doses. After my first round of chemo on Jan 13, I started my period a week later. I typically would have started on the 28th. Had no periods after that. Then, after my husband and I had sex last Friday night, we noticed small amounts of blood. I worried, as I too have 2 small fibroids in my uterus. After being diagnosed with BC, everything scares the crap out me when my body is "off". I am now gun shy with docs an their diagnosis's. My lump, that I found and mammo missed just 2 months before, came back benign after a core biopsy. I demanded they remove it anyway. Lucky I did!! They called me two days later to inform me they found cancer in it.

Anyway, after we noticed very minimal blood Friday night, it got heavier Sat and Sun. Yesterday and today it is heavier than I have ever experienced in my life !!! I swear I am bleeding to death! Same thing mentioned by others, tampon and pads!! Soaking thru every 2 or 3 hours. I just happened to have my FSH levels checked a couple weeks ago by my gyno, so sent her a text asking what the results were. It was 21. Slightly elevated, but not menopausal. For those that don't know, the higher the number, the closer to menopause. It is an indicator of your pituitary gland working harder to get your body to produce estrogen. I am with you all though, my first thought was uterine cancer!! Do any of you constantly worry about the chemo, rad and tamoxifen causing other cancers ?? All 3 were recommended, not necessary, in my case. They all stated " because you're so young, if you were 60 or 79, we wouldn't recommend it, as you don't have and aggressive cancer". I question my decision everyday. I have real heart ache over poisoning my body, deliberately! Was 39 when diagnosed. Just turned 40. Husband suddenly wants another baby, to make me even more confused!! I did want another before all of this, but now fearful. I am in great shape and loved being pregnant. Just nervous about damage I may have caused my body. Not missing the horrible hot flashes waking me up all night though! I will take the bleeding over the hot flashes. And for those having hot flashes, invest in bamboo sheets ! Best discovery I have ever made!!!!!

On another note, regarding chemo!!! If any of you have friends, loved ones, getting ready to go thru chemo and they are stage 1 or 2, may I recommend you have them look into penguin caps. Have been in use in Europe for 17 years. My husband found them for me online, days before my first round. I kept most of my hair as a result. Lost approx half, if I had to guess. But I had enough hair for 5 women. Very long and very thick, so my hair worked too much as an insulator to for my hair follIcles that the caps were designed to freeze. Lost a lot after round 1, but no one could really tell. Lost very little after the following treatments, since my hair was thinner and the caps were able to freeze the follicles properly. It's in comfortable, especially if you are like me and can't stand to be cold. But it was worth it !!!

I am 55 and had breast cancer 4 years ago. I have been on Tamoxifen for about 10 months. I started bleeding second time since the cancer, but have been in memopause for 4 years, too. My doctor said I have fibroid tumors, thickened uterus lining, and a cyst in my left ovary. What to do a hysterectomy? Any suggestions?